What is it and why should we care?
Restorative justice works to solve individual harms and violations of legal and human rights. It is increasingly used within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, schools, social services and communities. It engages those who are harmed, those who have harmed and their affected communities. It promotes repair, reconciliation and rebuilding of relationships to reestablish mutual responsibility and dignity of all.
But again, why should we care?
Aside from the moral imperative of forgiveness, prisoners almost all come back to live in our communities. It matters what they have been doing in jail to heal themselves if we expect them to return as peaceful, contributing citizens. Clearly, it can affect our safety and quality of life.
If inmates come out no better than when they went in, we can expect them to commit more crime (maybe against us) and wind up back in jail or prison. That’s exactly what happens to as many as 70%.
Restorative justice works with inmates to get in touch with and improve themselves. It goes beyond punishment and “bootstraps” many individuals into a better space through education and self improvement programs. Not all are redeemable and some must be forever separated from society.
Remember, sooner or later, almost all prisoners get out. Is it worth our efforts to help them recover? Should restorative justice be our general approach to criminal justice?
What do you think?
